Spektrum: When it comes to the development of cycling, we like to look at our neighbors in the Netherlands. After all, our western neighbors are a few steps ahead of us when it comes to cycling culture. The study from the Netherlands published today on the subject of "bicycle accidents and senior citizens" is also very interesting.
Alarming number of accidents among seniors
The basic findings of the Dutch Fietsberaad are actually frightening. The number of bicycle accidents involving older people is increasing. This is not necessarily because cycling has become more dangerous.
Figures from Statistics Netherlands as well as KiM prove something else and thus suggest a logical conclusion: For years more and more older people have been getting on their bikes - with this the number of accidents is also increasing.
In the case of fatal bicycle accidents alone, the proportion of people over 80 was 2019 percent in 27. For comparison: in 2000 it was only 12 percent. Even more impressive is the division into the categories “over 60” and “under 60”. Accordingly, the over 60-year-olds account for 72 percent of all bicycle deaths. Among cyclists under the age of 60, the number fell from 2000 percent to 2019 percent between 50 and 28.
E-bikes are no more dangerous for older people
More and more elderly people on bicycles lead to more accidents. Logically, because there are often problems getting on and off. The early recognition of obstacles and potentially dangerous situations is also a significant problem for seniors, which leads to a disproportionate number of sometimes serious individual accidents. But turning left at intersections and other complex driving maneuvers are also typical causes of accidents.
The most interesting finding of the Dutch, however, is that e-bikes are no more dangerous for seniors than non-motorized bicycles. The researchers came to this conclusion based on a database according to which senior citizens are only 1 to 4 km/h faster on an e-bike. The prejudice of the “racing pensioner” does not seem to apply to the majority of older e-cyclists. If we think through the results of the Dutch, there is only one thing that actually reduces the number of accidents among seniors: a sensible cycling infrastructure.